Small brush fire in Newhall Pass extinguished by motorists

A roadside brush fire was extinguished quickly Sunday after several passing motorists jumped from their vehicles then jumped on the fire in the Newhall Pass, officials confirmed.

Shortly after 1 p.m. Sunday, officials at the Los Angeles County Fire Department received report of a brush fire on roadside hills next to the northbound lanes of Interstate 5 and the northbound lanes of Highway 14, said department Inspector Melanie Flores.

Fire crews were dispatched at 1:09 p.m. but were called off 12 minutes later with the fire reported out.

“Several people got out and started putting out the fire,” said Sgt. Diana Johnson of the California Highway Patrol.

One of the motorists was seen extinguishing the hillside fire with a small personal fire extinguisher, she said.

When the fire was out, all members of the impromptu fire brigade got back in their respective vehicles and drove away.